Cyclists Q&A

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: NaOH

Originally posted by: Chryso

Originally posted by: Safeway
1. Kick stands are for crappy bikes, beach cruisers. We don't want to carry the weight around and look like a tool.

Kick stands only make you look like a tool if you are a tool to begin with.
Are you too much of a wuss to carry around the extra 8 ounces of metal for a kick stand?

I would argue that someone who cannot handle a bike without one is a wuss. I can carry one around, I just choose not to cause I don't need it. Just like I don't ride around with a metal basket, bell or beloved patriot horn.

HAndle a bike without one? Since when does a kick stand effect the way you handle a bike? It's there to keep your bike up if you have no place to lay it against. That is all it is for. Some people need it, some don't.

 

[speg]

Originally posted by: KingGheedora
How does one bike across the country? Are you actually using the bike a means of transporting yourself across the country, or do you actually drive around in a car to different cities and parks or whatever, and bike around when you get to these different locations?

I have all my gear (clothes, food, tent) packed onto the back of my bike and am biking across the country stopping wherever and whenever seems like a good place and time.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Abe Froman
I cycle every day, and I keep a kickstand on my bike. People can talk all they want, but my bike doesn't fall down.

Funny, I have two road bikes and neither of them have kickstands nor have they ever fallen down.

Really, so you can keep your bike free standing when it's not moving and you are not on it?

 

[Safeway]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Abe Froman
I cycle every day, and I keep a kickstand on my bike. People can talk all they want, but my bike doesn't fall down.

Funny, I have two road bikes and neither of them have kickstands nor have they ever fallen down.

Really, so you can keep your bike free standing when it's not moving and you are not on it?

Yes, actually. And I can track stand when I am on it. Freewheel track stand FTW.

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Abe Froman
I cycle every day, and I keep a kickstand on my bike. People can talk all they want, but my bike doesn't fall down.

Funny, I have two road bikes and neither of them have kickstands nor have they ever fallen down.

All the more reason to go with training wheels.

 

[MiniDoom]

Originally posted by: speg

Originally posted by: KingGheedora
How does one bike across the country? Are you actually using the bike a means of transporting yourself across the country, or do you actually drive around in a car to different cities and parks or whatever, and bike around when you get to these different locations?

I have all my gear (clothes, food, tent) packed onto the back of my bike and am biking across the country stopping wherever and whenever seems like a good place and time.

what are you going to do when you bust a spoke or get a flat in the middle of nowhere?

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: NaOH

Originally posted by: Chryso

Originally posted by: Safeway
1. Kick stands are for crappy bikes, beach cruisers. We don't want to carry the weight around and look like a tool.

Kick stands only make you look like a tool if you are a tool to begin with.
Are you too much of a wuss to carry around the extra 8 ounces of metal for a kick stand?

I would argue that someone who cannot handle a bike without one is a wuss. I can carry one around, I just choose not to cause I don't need it. Just like I don't ride around with a metal basket, bell or beloved patriot horn.

HAndle a bike without one? Since when does a kick stand effect the way you handle a bike? It's there to keep your bike up if you have no place to lay it against. That is all it is for. Some people need it, some don't.

It doesn't. Hence the replies to the OP about freaking out that there's no bike stand.

 

[Safeway]

Originally posted by: rdubbz420

Originally posted by: speg

Originally posted by: KingGheedora
How does one bike across the country? Are you actually using the bike a means of transporting yourself across the country, or do you actually drive around in a car to different cities and parks or whatever, and bike around when you get to these different locations?

I have all my gear (clothes, food, tent) packed onto the back of my bike and am biking across the country stopping wherever and whenever seems like a good place and time.

what are you going to do when you bust a spoke or get a flat in the middle of nowhere?

Repair it. What else?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Abe Froman
I cycle every day, and I keep a kickstand on my bike. People can talk all they want, but my bike doesn't fall down.

Funny, I have two road bikes and neither of them have kickstands nor have they ever fallen down.

Really, so you can keep your bike free standing when it's not moving and you are not on it?

No, I just lean it up against something. It has never been an issue...not even once in decades of cycling.

 

[speg]

Originally posted by: rdubbz420

Originally posted by: speg

Originally posted by: KingGheedora
How does one bike across the country? Are you actually using the bike a means of transporting yourself across the country, or do you actually drive around in a car to different cities and parks or whatever, and bike around when you get to these different locations?

I have all my gear (clothes, food, tent) packed onto the back of my bike and am biking across the country stopping wherever and whenever seems like a good place and time.

what are you going to do when you bust a spoke or get a flat in the middle of nowhere?

I carry a couple spare spokes & tubes with me. (not that I know how to change a spoke, haha.. I'm sure I could wrangle something together)

 

[MiniDoom]

Originally posted by: Safeway

Originally posted by: rdubbz420

Originally posted by: speg

Originally posted by: KingGheedora
How does one bike across the country? Are you actually using the bike a means of transporting yourself across the country, or do you actually drive around in a car to different cities and parks or whatever, and bike around when you get to these different locations?

I have all my gear (clothes, food, tent) packed onto the back of my bike and am biking across the country stopping wherever and whenever seems like a good place and time.

what are you going to do when you bust a spoke or get a flat in the middle of nowhere?

Repair it. What else?

no offense op, but he can't work quick release, do you think he can change a spoke and true a wheel? things he will probably need to do on a long tour.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: NaOH

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: NaOH

Originally posted by: Chryso

Originally posted by: Safeway
1. Kick stands are for crappy bikes, beach cruisers. We don't want to carry the weight around and look like a tool.

Kick stands only make you look like a tool if you are a tool to begin with.
Are you too much of a wuss to carry around the extra 8 ounces of metal for a kick stand?

I would argue that someone who cannot handle a bike without one is a wuss. I can carry one around, I just choose not to cause I don't need it. Just like I don't ride around with a metal basket, bell or beloved patriot horn.

HAndle a bike without one? Since when does a kick stand effect the way you handle a bike? It's there to keep your bike up if you have no place to lay it against. That is all it is for. Some people need it, some don't.

It doesn't. Hence the replies to the OP about freaking out that there's no bike stand.

He's freaking out b/c all $200 walmart bikes come with one. Even a $60 Target one comes with one. He just put down $1500 on a bike and it does not have one (OP...all bikes from real bike stores do not come with them, btw). He enjoys the comfort of getting off his bike and just letting his bike stand there without the aid of a big object. Why does anyone have to question this? I mean, i do not even have a kickstand and I even understand his fustration. You can obvioulsy see that he is not a professional biker or even close. Get off your high horses.

 

[axelfox]

Originally posted by: speg
I now know how to release the brakes :thumbsup:

As for the kickstand... I have often had to stop in the middle of nowhere with nothing around and just lay the bike on the ground, with all my gear on it I thought it might be nice to just have it stand up. Oh well...

Just buy a kickstand. A lot of commuters and tourers just add them on because they are convenient when you don't have a place to lean your bike.

Surley LHT is a sweet bike for touring.

 

[Safeway]

Originally posted by: axelfox

Originally posted by: speg
I now know how to release the brakes :thumbsup:

As for the kickstand... I have often had to stop in the middle of nowhere with nothing around and just lay the bike on the ground, with all my gear on it I thought it might be nice to just have it stand up. Oh well...

Just buy a kickstand. A lot of commuters and tourers just add them on because they are convenient when you don't have a place to lean your bike.

Surley LHT is a sweet bike for touring.

If you buy a kickstand, get a double legged kickstand. If you don't, your panniers will cause the bike to tip over.

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: NaOH

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: NaOH

Originally posted by: Chryso

Originally posted by: Safeway
1. Kick stands are for crappy bikes, beach cruisers. We don't want to carry the weight around and look like a tool.

Kick stands only make you look like a tool if you are a tool to begin with.
Are you too much of a wuss to carry around the extra 8 ounces of metal for a kick stand?

I would argue that someone who cannot handle a bike without one is a wuss. I can carry one around, I just choose not to cause I don't need it. Just like I don't ride around with a metal basket, bell or beloved patriot horn.

HAndle a bike without one? Since when does a kick stand effect the way you handle a bike? It's there to keep your bike up if you have no place to lay it against. That is all it is for. Some people need it, some don't.

It doesn't. Hence the replies to the OP about freaking out that there's no bike stand.

He's freaking out b/c all $200 walmart bikes come with one. Even a $60 Target one comes with one. He just put down $1500 on a bike and it does not have one (OP...all bikes from real bike stores do not come with them, btw). He enjoys the comfort of getting off his bike and just letting his bike stand there without the aid of a big object. Why does anyone have to question this? I mean, i do not even have a kickstand and I even understand his fustration. You can obvioulsy see that he is not a professional biker or even close. Get off your high horses.

I don't know about being on a high horse with my comment, usually those bikes are catered to more casual riders (ie kids that just ride and throw their bike down in the middle of the park, or people that just go from point A to point B a lot and just put their bike wherever). Him criticizing his thousand dollar road bike for not having one is a different story (meant for exercising/training where you don't normally just stop all the time and walk away). It's like someone complaining that their roadster not having the same soft handling as their camry or as many cup holders. Get the bike that suits your needs, but don't buy a decent roadbike expecting luxuries that people in that market never need or would hinder performance.

 

[zebano]

Originally posted by: Safeway

Originally posted by: axelfox

Originally posted by: speg
I now know how to release the brakes :thumbsup:

As for the kickstand... I have often had to stop in the middle of nowhere with nothing around and just lay the bike on the ground, with all my gear on it I thought it might be nice to just have it stand up. Oh well...

Just buy a kickstand. A lot of commuters and tourers just add them on because they are convenient when you don't have a place to lean your bike.

Surley LHT is a sweet bike for touring.

If you buy a kickstand, get a double legged kickstand. If you don't, your panniers will cause the bike to tip over.

seconded. Lack of a kickstand doesn't bother me. Racers don't use them because they're empty weight and that has filtered down to the casual riders...

If you haven't been riding much, I don't care what saddle you have, you will be saddlesore. It goes away over time.

Have fun on the trip.

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

Originally posted by: speg
My previous cycling experience is nothing fancy - $400 road bike from Canadian Tire (i.e. Walmart) that I got for 50% off and seems to work fine.

So for my summer adventure this year I picked up a brand new Surly Long Haul Trucker for $1500 with a bunch of touring gear and started biking across the country.

1. Why does my, or any other "pro" bike not have a bloody kickstand. I've been having to lean it up against sign posts on the side of the road. How could $1500 not include something so basic?

2. Same deal with the saddle. This is supposed to be a touring bike and it comes with this POS saddle that destroyed my ass after the first day. Replaced with some $20 thing from Canadian Tire and I am happier.

3. I am definitely doing this one wrong, but what is the point of quick release wheels if you still have to get them out of the brake pads?

4. How is this any better than a cheap bike? It's nice and all - but my $400 for $200 bike still gets me around, and it's not like it's a THOUSAND dollars worse. A THOUSAND. Why are these "pro" bikes so expensive?

That is all for now. Happy riding!

1. For me kickstands are nuisance rather than necessity. First bike I ever had was an old BMX with a kickstand. Ever go up on curbs and have your kickstand hit the curb? It sucks. Or ever not put the kickstand all the way up and go into a turn and have it scrape against the ground? I know, common sense, but it happens especially if you're in a hurry. As I grew older I never saw a need for a kickstand. Walls, lightposts, etc are adequate.

2. Are you using a comfort saddle for touring? Must be a slow slow ride.

3. As said previously, ever try changing a tire or tube with bolt on wheels?

4. Compare the comoponents of the Surly to that of your other bike. See the difference? See a weight difference as well? Doesn't it feel more durable?

 

[RadioHead84]

Are you biking across the country now or are you about to start? Sounds like you haven't biked a lot, and while you can learn a lot and get into shape by just doing it, some preparation would be good. I am seriously considering doing the same thing you are, but I am going to take a full bike repair/maintanence class before heading out.

 

[dman]

Is this a troll? Seriously you can not tell the difference between a $200, $400, and $1500 bike? Did you even try the newest one out (or one like it) before buying it? If you can't tell or take advantage of what it has to offer then why would you even buy it?

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Originally posted by: RadioHead84
Are you biking across the country now or are you about to start? Sounds like you haven't biked a lot, and while you can learn a lot and get into shape by just doing it, some preparation would be good. I am seriously considering doing the same thing you are, but I am going to take a full bike repair/maintanence class before heading out.

don't forget the power of duct tape.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: NaOH

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: NaOH

Originally posted by: Chryso

Originally posted by: Safeway
1. Kick stands are for crappy bikes, beach cruisers. We don't want to carry the weight around and look like a tool.

Kick stands only make you look like a tool if you are a tool to begin with.
Are you too much of a wuss to carry around the extra 8 ounces of metal for a kick stand?

I would argue that someone who cannot handle a bike without one is a wuss. I can carry one around, I just choose not to cause I don't need it. Just like I don't ride around with a metal basket, bell or beloved patriot horn.

HAndle a bike without one? Since when does a kick stand effect the way you handle a bike? It's there to keep your bike up if you have no place to lay it against. That is all it is for. Some people need it, some don't.

It doesn't. Hence the replies to the OP about freaking out that there's no bike stand.

He's freaking out b/c all $200 walmart bikes come with one. Even a $60 Target one comes with one. He just put down $1500 on a bike and it does not have one (OP...all bikes from real bike stores do not come with them, btw). He enjoys the comfort of getting off his bike and just letting his bike stand there without the aid of a big object. Why does anyone have to question this? I mean, i do not even have a kickstand and I even understand his fustration. You can obvioulsy see that he is not a professional biker or even close. Get off your high horses.

That's b/c when your bike falls over b/c the weaksauce kickstand doesn't keep the bike-up, you won't be as pissed-off with a Walmart bike than with a $1.5k bike.

 

[axelfox]

I would think X-Mart bikes wouldn't have the bosses and long enough chainstays to fit a rack and panniers. But I've been known to be wrong before.

 

[DrPizza]

Just wait til he has that heavy load of gear on his bike, and has the bike balanced against a kickstand when a gust of wind tips the whole thing over, breaking something in his gear.

 

[FleshLight]

I use a carbon fiber Super Record kickstand on my ride.

 

[Safeway]

These bikes are pretty awesome touring bikes:
http://www.xtracycle.com/cargo-utility-bicycles.html

Take a look at the built up Surly Big Dummy about halfway down the page. You can load it up with gear.